There is no doubt that seeking knowledge leads to being tested by Allah. Being patient upon these tests & trials is an important part of becoming a student of knowledge. Having said that there are certain issues that cause people to leave their study. Here are some that I have come across:
- Not knowing what life is like over in Saudi. This is a major factor for people leaving their study. They go over to Saudi expecting that it will be just like life in the west. The sheer difference in culture is too much for them to take. Do some research, ask other students, and go over for a couple of weeks for ‘Umrah if you can. There are three particular aspects which people find very difficult to adjust to in Saudi:
- The administration. There really aren’t any words to describe just how difficult it is to get anything done in Saudi. Imagine taking 2 years to open a bank account. Imagine a group of people whose sole purpose in their job is to make your life a misery – then imagine that they are put in charge of government offices. Imagine that the only word that many of them seem to know is “come back tomorrow”, which they use as a kind of self defence mechanism when the queue is too long. Imagine needing to get everything stamped at least five times by five people who don’t seem to ever turn up to the office. Imagine being told something is not possible, only to find that the person after you asked for and was given the same thing you asked for, then when you go back and ask, it isn’t possible again. To be fair to the university, the new head has made a lot of changes, and seems to be making a real effort to change the culture there, and there have been a lot of improvements…but there is still a long way to go, and even if the university got rid of the culture entirely, it still exists in many government offices and large corporations. I mention this for a reason. If you know about it, and you are prepared for it, it is much less likely that you will quit in frustration. There really is only one way to beat the system – adapt to it.
- The weather. This may sound very strange because you would expect that most people would realise that Saudi is very hot – but still there are students who quit because they weren’t prepared for living and studying in the heat. In the summer the temperature on a normal day is 45 degrees centigrade in the shade, and the winter in Madinah can get very cold – some days around 15 degrees centigrade at mid day (which might not sound cold but the temperature change is a lot and Fajr time is even colder). Again, going to Saudi and experiencing a couple of weeks living there can give you a good idea, if you are able.
- Being away from family. Most people will be away from their family for 9 months a year. If you are the kind of person who can’t bear to spend a weekend away from your family, then you need to reflect upon whether you will be able to handle 9 months. There are students who quit because they miss their family, and some who just don’t commit to study because of home sickness. Apart from the option of travelling home in the middle of the year for those who can afford it (subject to acceptance by the university), there isn’t any option to travel back during term time. There also isn’t a realistic option to take a ‘gap year’ or ‘term break’ – regardless of the official position that it is possible. Of the students who tried it, I only know one who was allowed back.
- A lack of commitment to study. This is another major factor why people either quit, or do very little in their time in Madinah. I remember when I wanted to apply, I went to a Saudi scholar who was visting us in Newcastle. I brought a translator who knew the Shaykh well, and I came organised with my documents. The Shaykh gave me some of the most valuable advice I have ever received. He said: “What makes you think that you will be able to study over there, in the heat, away from your family, when you have not proven your commitment here? – you have not even learned Arabic.” The more time I spend over in Madinah, the more I realise just how accurate his statement was. Brothers, if you can’t travel 30 miles once a week to a nearby city to seek knowledge, then what makes you think you’ll be successful when you travel 3000 miles? If you can’t even go to a regular circle once a week for six months, what makes you think you will attend your lessons in Madinah…practical experience shows that most brothers who don’t show commitment in their own country, are not successful in Madinah, and they fall down at the first obstacle!
Note that my intention with this page is not to be negative, but to be realistic. There are so many amazing things about studying in Madinah, but you rarely hear the negative aspects. If you know these negative things and are prepared for them, inshaa Allah you will benefit a lot more from your study.
Now go on to Living as a single student.
asalamualaykum dear br
jazkallahkhair for this blog, you are fullfilling a fard kifya , may allah reward you
i applied last summer 09, and will this aug what the results are….
i wanteted to do a master’s degree here in the west, like if i study in madinah, when does the summer holiday exaxtly start and end every summer so i could plan my classes accordingly
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
Wa iyyaak.
The term finishes sometime in June each year, and starts towards the end of September. The dates change every year, but you could safely schedule classes from the end of June until mid-September without any problems, inshaa Allah.
Baarak Allahu feek,
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
Muhammad
Asalamu Alaykum akhi!
Akhii i live in USA and i am planing to move from this country to kenya inshallah, and at the same time i want to apply at the university. My question is if i get approved while i live in kenya then do i have to come back to the US to finish my paper work or i can do it while i am there.
i also have few questions:
My first question is that i don’t know any person well known in the university so is it OK if go to my local masgid to get recommendation letters.
Also i am going for Umra inshaallah February 2010 so can i apply for the university while i am there or do i have to apply before i go there. And my final question is that if i get approved by march 2010 then when will the i begin my sudies..
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullah,
You can get references from anyone, and your local masjid is a good start, but I always advise the brothers to work that little bit harder to get stronger references. Even if you have to travel to an Islamic conference to see one of the speakers, or search around for someone local who can give a strong reference, it is always worth it to do so. If you are in the US, take a look at some of the blogs of the US students (there are two or three links in the “useful links” section on my blog). Inshaa Allah, they can advise you of the best people to go to. Don’t forget to get a reference from your local masjid as well.
You can apply when you come in February inshaa Allah, you don’t have to do anything before you come.
In terms of moving to a different country, if you already live in the country when you apply, then you can tell them to transfer all of the paperwork to Kenya. However, if you apply as a US student and then later move, then most likely you would have to complete the application procedure in the US, although you could try to write a letter to the Head of Admissions, to ask permission to transfer your papers.
If you get an interview in February-March, you’re really on the border line. Theoretically, you would be considered for 2011, but there is still a chance of being accepted for 2010, depending on the number of students already accepted from the US, and the strength of your application.
May Allah make it easy for you,
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullah,
Muhammad
Salamualaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Oh Brother in Islam, I have read all the stuff I am needed to do, for the most part I think I can do, but I just needed a bit on answering on my questions and I need a little bit of help with reference or contact, My question is, I know we can give the stuff in a package but I also know that we can go there for an interview. For the interview, is it before getting accepted or after? And my other question is I live in canada, Toronto. And am looking for atleast 2 good reference. If by any chance you know anyone then, can you please help me out, May ALLAH bless you in this Dunya And in the akhira.
I already replied to the first post..apologies for the delay
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
I was excepted to study this semester (2009), received my acceptance letter, handed in my package, and have quite the emergency on my hands concerning it. Here is not the place to talk about it, plus my carpal tunnel syndrome acts up when i type to much. If you could please contact me at the email address I provided ASAP, it would be much appreciated, and may Allah reward you well.
Salaam!
Hayyakum Allah! Hope everyone/thing is fine.
Akhi Abu Abdir-Rahmaan, Al-Hamdulillah wa shukruk to answer many questions before on other links of this type (sorry, i know it’s essay type) but i still have got many questions that are (some) NOT of major concerns BUT would/may be useful.
I was thinking over if i should ask many questions in one go on say this link or do it separately. I think it would be more appropriate if i ask questions that are related to the content and specific links.
OK, question on here after reading this page:
When applying last year, I was asking Shaikh Shoaib Mirpuri of Green Lane Birmingham, that what about if i get accepted for this year (as in the one that just ended 2008-2009) and i still have my final year of BSC degree left (Which i finished now Al-Hamdulillah) so what can i do and what would happen. He ALWAYS (for almost 4 years) advised me of finishing my degree thus i thought it would be best to raise this issue/scenario that may happen. He again told me to complete my education as it would be beneficial. He then went on telling me that the University has a system of differing semesters upto a whole year. He told me that if you need to retake some exams (of UK uni) then do them upto January then travel out and that would be that you missed 1 semester. Or you can take out the whole year as a gap year (NOT during study but as soon as your accepted and before you go there) of the year your accepted and they should allow it if you got a valid reasons. But it can ONLY be for 1 year.
A friend of mine in Umm Al-Qura told me that (2-3 years back) he got accepted but the letter went to someone elses house. So this is not the usual case but the University allowed him (they acknowldged the fault) to come in the next year. His younger brother also had an health issue so they sent him back and after a year he returned back to Umm Al-Qura.
Now putting them together i would like to ask you that can you please find out if this is possible.
I’ll tell you why it’s my concern…recently there’s been satanic whisperes
My sisters getting married soon (this month) and father would have an eye operation end of Ramadan. I’m in few grands debt because of Uni and have NO money to get rid of debt OR/AND support my future IF i’m there in Madinah studying OR after my return (ie marriage etc).
Now i’m thinking that if i get accepted then where to go??? What to do??? How to do??? Can you please advise me.
I was thinking that if taking the year out and working really hard i would INSHA-ALLAH be able to collect enough to get rid of the debt and have some amount in the account so that i dont have to depend on family or can arrive in Saudi with some cash to support myself for first few months.
Another quick out of topic question:
?
Were you married from before? When did you marry and how? Was it before studies? Did yopu manage any jobs over there? & what would you advise all the singles
Allah have blessings and mercy in your wealth, health, life, wife
Allah increase you and your family in Taqwa, Knowledge, Rizq and Amal!
Sorry i’m ending it in abrupt because have to go for Ishaa….so in a rush!
Jazak-Allah
Barak-Allah feek
Salaam
MD Gulam Muhith
Assalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
I’m finally getting around to answering everyone’s questions. Apologies if the answer is short and to the point, but I’m trying to get through as much as possible.
I sincerely advise you that it isn’t possible to delay your studies at all, not even for one term, even if you have a valid reason. I know many brothers who have tried it, only one got back in, and he basically had to camp outside of the uni for a month.
I don’t doubt that there are brothers who have done so successfully, but there are much more who failed and have to live with the consequences.
I was married before I came to the university, but without a second’s hesitation I would advise that no single brother gets married in the first couple of years until he knows what he is getting himself into, with the exception of those who genuinely fear for their religion – even when they are in Madinah. I mentioned this on the married students’ page.
May Allah make it easy for you,
Wassalaamu alaykum,
Muhammad
a/s aki muhammed
Allah purifies his sincer believers by means of illness just like when iron ore is puriefied of its impurities in the process of making iron so to prepare myself i ask
have you or any of the people you know experienced illness due to enviromental change, and if so or if anybody does what is made available there to ease the matter in terms of healthcare.
jazakullah khayr aki
mahmoed
Wa alaykumussalaam warahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu,
May Allah reward you and make your search for knowledge easy.
Some brothers do get sick when they first come. Many of them even quit. There is good healthcare available, but you have to pay. The university healthcare is at best very unpredictable (but the bonus is that it’s free, including the medicine). The best thing to do if you are sick, is to go to a private hospital. Most simple complaints shouldn’t cost more than about 20-25 GBP (33-40 USD) at a good private hospital.
Getting sick in a foreign country can be a challenge at any time, and for sure it’s one of the ways that the shaytaan uses to get at you. The main thing to realise is that it’s a test and like you mentioned, it’s a cause of reward.
Wassalaamu alaykum warahmatullah,
Muhammad